Seeking employment in AntarcticaWhat type of job are you looking for? Vehicle or facilities repair. What nationality are you? United States of America What languages do you speak (and at what level)? English What country or area are you looking to work in and why? Antarctica... I enjoy the cold weather. What field do you currently work in? Vehicle maintenance and repair. What fields have you worked in before? Dairy farming. What qualifications do you hold? 32 years as a postal mechanic, 3 years dealership mechanic, 20 years on the farm. Which do you consider more valuable? Formal education or skills and why? I wnet to technical school to learn mechanics, I had gained mechainical skills keeping up the farm equipment, the technical knowlege allowed me to advance rapidly in my career. Describe the benefits of working with others Being a lead tech in my shop I must maintain communications between the mechanics under me and answer to my manager. In a team effort we advance quickly. Describe the benefits of working alone I am most productive when alone, my job requires my communications with many people during the day and this takes up much of my time. I work a shift until 10:30 pm and find I get more done after regular buisness hours. What was your worst working experience? Oh by all means the farm work, we had over 100 milking cows and on the most terrible of weather days I would be taking care of a breech birth calf, in the rain, snow or sleet. My fingers were bare and be numb from the cold but in most cases the calf would be born healthy. One other bad one was when I almost dumped a 22 ton excavator down a 25 foot cliff over a creek. I stood it on the front of the tracks removing a large pipe from the side of the creek. What is the most important lesson you have learnt throughout your career? To listen first, ask questions, then speak and never take anything for granite. What unique skills do you have? A very good mechanic, experienced in welding and some machine shop. I can also grow corn, beans, wheat, milk cows and operate a bulldozer or excavator. I tried flying an ultralite trike but crashed. What would you consider as your 'dream job'? Actually inventing, I have plans for a simple valve aircraft unlike anything that flys today. The other is a commercial boat captain. In reality building things like metal buildings (I put together a 40 foot by 72 foot one once) or just keeping mechanical things going, like vehicles or machinery. What are the most interesting aspects of your field? Having to keep up with the demands of my superiors, the postal service is in a panic right now because it is going broke. Some bad decisions are being made in my area of vehicles. I have decided to just hang on and see where it goes, it is almost a comedy. What are the least interesting aspects of your field? The hot building I work in. A 2 year old, 2.5 million dollar building and they would not put in air conditioning. Oh well i made 30 years in a hole in the wall so I shouldn't complain. The other is where our postal leaders are taking us, they are killing my retirement. Please replace this with a question of your own The American icon (United States Postal Service) that I have put my faith in for 32 years is faultering, should I go down with the boat or find something better to do? How can potential employers contact you? J.M.Cooper@usps.gov James Cooper 2950 River Road Fayetteville, North Carolina 28312 1-910-223-3642 boogergotgoofy@AOL.com boogergotgoofy@Yahoo.com | 
